Chinese funeral

Chinese funeral has several main traditions. There are Buddhist ceremonies that last at least for 49 days. First 7 days are believed to be the most important. Prayers are said every 7 days for 49 days. If a family of the deceased is poor this period can be short, lasting for only 3 days.

Traditionally the daughters of the deceased pay the funeral costs. The head of the family should at least be present at first prayer ceremony, if possible at second prayer ceremony and certainly at the burial or cremation.

Chinese also have a special prayer ceremony held every 10 days. This ceremony includes the Buddhist ceremony and 3 succeeding periods of ten days until the burial or cremation.

A final ceremony may be organized 100 days after death. But, for most Chinese it is not so important.

The age of the deceased, the cause of death, the fact that the deceased was single or married, the social status of the deceased are all factors that influence Chinese death rites. The whole procedure of the funeral and everything around should be done in a proper way cause any irregularities can in bad luck and accidents for the family of the deceased.

Preparations for the funeral start when a person is gravely ill. First, a family orders traditional Asian coffin. The shape of such a coffin is rectangular with three "humps". It has to be mentioned that nowadays western style coffins are becoming more popular.

If the deceased is the father his eldest son is becoming head of the family. And in case the the eldest son dies his role is taken by the second son of the family. His duties among others include relations with the ancestors of the family.

When someone in the family dies all statues of Chinese gods in the home are covered with red paper. All mirrors are removed. It is done according to belief that if some person sees a reflection of a coffin in the mirror yet another death would happen in the family very soon. A piece of white cloth is put over a doorway.

There is one more detail. If the deceased is a man people put a gong to the left of the entrance. And if the deceased is a woman a gong is put on the right side.

Body of the deceased is cleaned with a damp towel with some talcum powder applied on it. Then the deceased is dressed in the finest clothes. Such a clothes is usually white, black, blue or brown.

Only one colour is forbidden. It is red. Why? Chinese believe that if the deceased would be dressed in red he will be become a ghost. All other clothes that the deceased used to wear when he's alive is burned.

Then the face of the deceased is covered with a yellow cloth. The body is covered with a light blue cloth. After that the body is put in the coffin.

The wake is what follows. If the deceased died at home the coffin will also be there. But, if he died out of home than the coffin will be placed in the courtyard. There are rules considering the position of the coffin. The coffin is put on two stools with head of the deceased positioned towards the house.

During the wake people do not wear jewelry of any red objects. Traditionally children and grandchildren of the deceased would not cut their hair for 49 days after the death. This tradition is not so common anymore.

After the wake family members gather around the coffin. Here persons are positioned according to rules.

The colour of clothes worn is also very important. Children and daughters-in-law wear black. Black symbolized the strongest sadness. Grandchildren wear blue clothes and grand grandchildren, if there are any, wear light blue clothes. Sons-in-law wear white or of similar colour. The children and daughters-in-law of the deceased will also wear a sackcloth hood on their heads.

The eldest son is suppose to sit at the left shoulder of his parent's coffin and the spouse of the deceased sits on the right. Traditionally those relatives who arrive later are crawling on their knees towards the coffin.

At the foot of the coffin the family prepares an altar. On such an altar burning incense and lit white candle is put. Chinese believe that the deceased should have kind of an income during his afterlife. That is why during the wake people burn joss paper and prayer money.